Honda is planning a production version of the fuel cell electric vehicle that may not look as sleek as the FCEV on display at the Chicago Auto Show. The production model will seat 5, have a range over 300 miles, and emit water vapor. It's at the front of the Honda display in the South Hall.

Honda is planning a production version of the fuel cell electric vehicle that may not look as sleek as the FCEV on display at the Chicago Auto Show. The production model will seat 5, have a range over 300 miles, and emit water vapor. It's at the front of the Honda display in the South Hall. (Robert Duffer)

GM is still unsure if this stunning beast will make it to production. The rear-wheel drive prototype has a 4.5-liter twin turbocharged V-8 making an estimated 500 horsepower. We'll take the Elmiraj over the ELR, please.

GM is still unsure if this stunning beast will make it to production. The rear-wheel drive prototype has a 4.5-liter twin turbocharged V-8 making an estimated 500 horsepower. We'll take the Elmiraj over the ELR, please. (Chicago Auto Show)

Cadillac's stunning Elmiraj concept coupe can't and won't be missed at the the head of Cadillac's display in the North hall. Not only is the twin-turbocharged V8 the most impressive production-leaning concept, it is one of the standouts of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show.

Cadillac's stunning Elmiraj concept coupe can't and won't be missed at the the head of Cadillac's display in the North hall. Not only is the twin-turbocharged V8 the most impressive production-leaning concept, it is one of the standouts of the 2014 Chicago Auto Show. (Robert Duffer)

The people have spoken. Touted as the consumer’s show, the 2014 Chicago Auto Show asked the public to weigh in on what they thought were the best vehicles and exhibits at the 106th running of the 10-day fair.

The ninth consecutive Best in Show awards are not just a shrewd marketing play, they are a direct source of feedback to automakers.

“Best of Show voting has become a benchmark measure, and winning in any category is quite meaningful for our manufacturers and exhibitors,” said 2014 Chicago Auto Show Chairman Kurt Schiele.

The 2015 Ford Mustang is no surprise, given all the build up to the 50th anniversary of the Mustang, and Ford’s impressive display, which centered on the new Mustang beside the first Mustang, a 1964 ½ convertible. The Stingray, Maserati Ghibli and Lexus RC also generated new car buzz. I thought Volvo’s performance-based Polestar V60 wagon was cool, but with only 120 units being made, it’s hard to generate much sustained excitement.

For concepts, the Toyota FT-1 was expectedly awesome, and the Honda FCV fuel cell vehicle was a nice headliner for their display, but the Elmiraj was not just the most impressive concept but one of the most stunning cars at the show. Not only does the 4.5-liter twin turbocharged V-8 engine inspire awe (and 500 horsepower), the design is gorgeous. If Cadillac had to choose one, I’d wish they invested in the Elmiraj over the plug-in hybrid ELR, which won Best Green Vehicle.

A plug-in supporter, I’m down on the ELR simply because of the $75,000 sticker price. It can’t, at this price, compete with the Tesla Model S. The Chevy Volt and BMW i3 won the silver and bronze in the Green Car category, which is interesting considering the world debut of the Kia Soul EV. Debuts are the news breaking big deal trumpeted by media and automakers, but the effect on consumers doesn’t seem as strong. For Green cars anyway. It also doesn’t help that the Soul EV won’t be sold in the Midwest. Yet.

The Chevy exhibit, which took up the corner near the supercar garage, was part of GM’s entire wall at the Show. It was bright and spacious, which was nice, and had giveaways such as comic books and amenities such as phone charging stations, but it didn’t have the same total package as other displays. I thought Ford’s exhibit, which came in second for consumers, was the most impressive and interactive, with the gunning 5.0 Mustang engine of the Dynometer, the wall of Mustang pinball machines, Hank the entertaining robot and the model Mustang building area. That was just on one side. On the other side of the Mustang wall were the Ford trucks and Sim Zilla, the most impressive simulator of the crowded simulator field.

Toyota’s exhibit ranked a close second for me based on the similar level of interactivity, especially the teen distracted driving simulator. Even though the Jeep test track has been voted the best exhibit for the past 3 years, it comes at a price. The line on Saturday night was over an hour long, while the Toyota TRD Pro series indoor track was kept moving with a heavy rotation of trucks, cutting wait times to 20 to 30 minutes.

As for the Bugatti Veyron? We called it the most ridiculous car at the 2014 Show, both as a form of flattery and incomprehension. I’d love to have an 8-liter, QUAD-turbocharged, 16-cylinder engine with four-wheel drive that makes 1,001 horsepower and goes 0-62 mph in 2.6 seconds too, but I’d be too intimidated to drive it for how it should be driven: with your foot on the floor and your heart in your throat.

Bryan Santana, the man accused of stabbing his roommate and defiling her corpse, tried to punch a corrections officer, soiled himself and smeared excrement on the wall of a holding cell before his murder trial was due to begin on Tuesday.